The best vegetarian cafés in Hong Kong

Header image credit: MANA!

There’s no shortage of fast-food restaurants and bistros in Hong Kong, but for those of you who follow a plant-based diet, the usual vegetarian and vegan offerings at a typical café might start to get boring real quick. We know everyone loves a good cuppa, or have ever-changing options for a quick bite during our hectic lunch hours, so we’ve rounded up some of our favourite plant-based cafés and juice bars around town to help you live healthier while on the go.

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Photo credit: Be-Juiced

Be-Juiced

Now whether or not you believe in the effects of juice cleansing diets, you can’t deny that the juices and açaí bowls at Be-Juiced are delicious. With over 30 different kinds of cold-pressed juices, all sorts of toppings to build your own açaí bowl with, as well as coffee and raw food options, it’s a great spot for a healthy pick-me-up. There is limited seating at the shop, so you might want to get your juice and snacks to go, but if you can snag it, the table outside is ideal for people-watching and getting some work done while you nosh.

Bookworm Café

If you find yourself on a day trip to Lamma Island, check out Bookworm Café, a colourful and inviting joint filled with books serving up hearty and comforting vegetarian fare. We love the Green Goddess Lasagne and the Sunshine Shake after soaking up the sun on one of Lamma’s many beaches. It’s popular with both locals and visitors alike, especially on weekends and holidays, so try and call ahead to secure a spot, or just show up early.

Confusion Plant-Based Kitchen

The Confusion team put a lot of heart into every item on their menu and it really shows. The space is small, but the menu is certainly extensive, with the meal deals being a staunch favourite during lunchtime. Here you’ll find everything from standard veggie burgers to weekly specialities like tacos and tom yum soup, all 100% vegan. Confusion also offers (organic!) boozy beverages at very reasonable prices, what more could you want from a vego restaurant?

Fresca

Fresca wants to feed Hong Kong only the best plant-based ready-to-go meals without sacrificing taste or health. The team sources all their produce from a private local organic farm, harvested daily and sent directly to Fresca. They pride themselves on having one of the smallest carbon footprints of any local restaurant, and their menu changes every day according to what’s fresh and seasonal. The rotating selection of salads, soups, and muffins are inspired by both Asian and Western flavours and showcases how plant-based cuisine can be filling and delicious without relying on alternative meats and gimmicks.

Greenwoods

Not only is Greenwoods a 100 percent raw vegan and living foods café, it also regularly hosts workshops teaching its loyal customer base how to make gut-friendly foods as well as how to transition into a raw diet. You may be wondering, what exactly is raw food? Everything served at Greenwoods won’t be heated to temperatures over 41C to maintain the enzyme bonds. You won’t find meat, dairy, eggs or refined sugar either, and ingredients are also sourced locally. The menu has both Chinese and Western dishes, so the flavours won’t be too far out of the left field, you’ll just have to try out the raw food diet for yourself.

LN Fortunate Coffee

LN Fortunate Coffee is both an artisanal coffee shop and a no-frills vegan restaurant. It’s a relaxing space to spend an afternoon grazing in, with its floor to ceiling windows and quiet location in Sai Ying Pun. The coffee here is, of course, spectacular and sometimes sourced from the owner’s travels. There are some innovative dishes here that you won’t find in any other vegan restaurant, such as Hong Kong-style egg waffles, and comfort food like curry rice and udon soup. The classic all day breakfast is definitely the must-try, though, and cures a hangover just as well as its carnivorous counterpart does.

MANA!

MANA! is one of the plant-based fast food pioneers in the city and has really helped to build a community around plant-based eating as well as promoting physical and spiritual wellness and togetherness. MANA!’s 3 locations all operate with zero-food-waste and offer free water for all. All of the packaging is compostable and biodegradable as well, so do your part in reducing waste with their helpfully labelled recycling points. We especially love their vegan breakfast menu (available at the Star Street location) featuring MANA!’s take on avo toast that you can chase down with one of their vegan coffees.

Sweetpea Café

If no one mentioned it, you wouldn’t know that the delectable sweet treats at Sweetpea Café are all gluten-free, and some are vegan and keto-friendly as well. You can choose to sit upstairs in the bright loft space with an Active Black Charcoal Coconut Latte or try and keep the friendly furry visitors from stealing a bite of your cake outside on the steps. Their signature and most popular cake is the Double Earl Grey Chiffon Cake, an adorable and very Instagrammable creation of earl grey tea chiffon cake layers with earl grey tea infused Bavarian cream, and covered with fresh cream Chantilly frosting and edible flowers.

Treehouse

Fans of Home Eat to Live and MANA! will rejoice to hear that chef and entrepreneur Christian G. Mongendre is back with his new venture Treehouse, bringing back beloved dishes from Home Eat to Live, and providing the city with more high quality and healthy plant-based casual dining options. The all day whole foods menu is made with organic ingredients that are locally sourced, and features build-your-own bowls, flatbreads, cold brew coffee, smoothies and kombucha, as well as a range of gluten-free and raw options. The café is also designed to look like a treehouse, with all furniture designed and built sustainably.

Veggie Spinner

Veggie Spinner is a hidden gem in Tai Hang that serves Western café fare made vegan and vegetarian. The owner insists on hand-making everything, including pizza dough and soups, so you know everything is made with heart. It’s precisely this spirit that has attracted a loyal band of customers that love Veggie Spinner’s Lavash Rolls, fresh detox juices, and customizable pizzas. Make sure to keep an eye out on their Facebook page as they set their own opening hours and sometimes focus more on catering events instead.

Currently based in Hong Kong by way of Calgary, Inés has always had a passion for writing and her creative work can be found in obscure literary ’zines. When she’s not busy scouring the city for the best gin-based cocktail, she can be found curled up with her journal and fur-ever friend Peanut. Don’t be surprised if you cross paths with her and she already knows all your mates.

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